The Pros and Cons of Newt Gingrich

Now that Newt Gingrich has shockingly won the South Carolina primary and could be headed for a win in Florida, it seems the time has come to ask: who is Newt Gingrich? And what is it about this man that GOP voters are suddenly responding to? To find out, let's take a look at the categories that usually make up a candidate and examine what Republican voters see as his strengths and weaknesses in each area.

Character
Con: Asked his first wife for a divorce while she was in the hospital battling uterine cancer and later refused to pay her child support or alimony until she took him to court. Left his second wife around the time she was first diagnosed with MS after she (allegedly) refused consent to an open marriage. When asked if he was compassionate, he once famously replied "I'm not sure what the word means".

Leadership Ability
Con: Forced two different government shutdowns partially over being made to sit in the back of Air Force One. Oversaw a loss of GOP seats in the House every election during his tenure as speaker. Inspired former colleagues of his to say things about him such as, "I am not inclined to be a supporter of Newt Gingrich, having served under him for four years and experienced personally his leadership." And that's from Tom Coburn, a member of his own party.